Skin Care

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is the process of hair removal by means of exposure to pulses of laser light that destroy the hair follicle. It had been performed experimentally for about twenty years before becoming commercially available in the mid-1990s. One of the first published articles describing laser hair removal was authored by the group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998.

Laser hair removal is widely practiced in clinics, and even in homes using devices designed and priced for consumer self-treatment. Many reviews of laser hair removal methods, safety, and efficacy have been published in the dermatology literature.

R. Rox Anderson and Melanie Grossman discovered that it was possible to selectively target a specific chromophore with a laser to partially damage basal stem cells inside the hair follicles. This method proved to be successful, and was first applied in 1996. In 1997 the United States Food and Drug Administration approved this tactic of hair removal.

As this technology continued to be researched, laser hair removal became more effective and efficient; thus, it is now a common method in removing hair for long periods of time.

Comparison with shaving

Shaving is a technique in which one removes hair from the skin with a razor. Shaving has been popular as a temporary hair removal technique since at least the 1700s. In 1895 King Gillette invented a razor blade that was sharp, thin, disposable, and cheap to make. This system was a widespread success and has evolved into the modern disposable razor. Shaving, however, is only temporary and can lead to irritation of the shaved area.

Comparison with waxing

Waxing is another option for hair removal. This method is an efficient way of removing hair; it is longer-lasting than shaving but not permanent. The ancient Egyptians developed a similar mechanism, sugaring, in which one would mix oil and honey then apply it to the skin.

As waxing has evolved, there are two types of waxing. In one, the strips are already ready to use, and one can apply it to the skin and peel it off in the direction opposite to the hair growth. Another one involves heating up the wax, applying it to the skin, and then placing a cloth on it and pulling away from the hair growth.